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Ramesh is alive, warns Govt. against backing Karuna
The LTTE's Batticaloa-Ampara Special Commander, Ramesh, who was reported dead, appeared before journalists yesterday to issue a warning to the Government -- do not use the Karuna faction to declare war against the LTTE.

"Serious repercussions could flow if this situation continues," he told a group of journalists at a meeting in the LTTE-held Kokkadicholai in the Batticaloa district. "We have information to confirm Karuna, (the renegade Batticaloa-Ampara leader) is being harboured by the Army. We also know his group is collecting information about us."

Ramesh said the LTTE leadership was aware some people were providing information to Karuna. He said they had already been warned not to keep such contacts. Four Karuna-faction women cadres, including the Ampara-Batticaloa women's corp leader Nilavini and Premini of the Political wing had rejoined the LTTE, he said.

"They will be hold a news conference shortly to disclose details about Karuna," he said. Ramesh said newspaper reports about fighting in the Thoppigala jungles were baseless and being spread by interested parties. He said he had decided not to attend the meeting early this week with the army, but stories had been spread that he had been killed in an ambush by Karuna's group.

Ramesh said they had sought permission through the SLMM to enter government-controlled areas, but permission had not been granted as it would violate the MOU. "But we will make sure that no harm is done to our cadres," he vowed.

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